Safaricom Foundation has launched Wezesha Agri-Eco Hub Project in Busia County, to empower over 5,000 youth through agriculture, enterprise development, and ecopreneurship.
The programme which is in collaboration with Lake Basin Development Authoitry (LBDA) and Ustadi Foundation at a cost of Kshs 120 million is aimed to train more than five thousand youths (60% women and 40% men) and persons with disabilities on smart Agriculture;climate-smart farming, digital literacy, and connecting youth-led agribusinesses to markets via e-commerce, creating new economic opportunities.
Safaricom foundation stated on their socials that with strong partnerships, they’re laying the foundation for a new generation of agripreneurs and transforming agriculture into a viable catalyst of economic empowerment for Kenya’s youth.
Agriculture is recognised as a primary livelihood source for many rural people in Africa and an essential contributor to economic growth . Previous research studies and policies have highlighted the role of agriculture in employment creation, food and nutrition security, and reducing societal inequality and poverty in Africa.
The agricultural sector also presents opportunities for entrepreneurship, which would be ideal for employment creation, especially among youth .Moreover, the increasing growth in Africa’s urban markets further presents an opportunity for increased demand for processed and prepared foods. Consequently, this would attract substantial private sector investments for small, medium, and large agribusiness entrepreneurs and other food system participants. Fulfilling the potential of African agribusiness could open up markets estimated to be worth more than US$100 billion per year by 2025 .
As part of the partnership, a smart hub will be established on ta12 acres parcel, complete with training rooms with at least 50 computers, demonstration plots, fish ponds, pig and poultry farms.
Activities to be implemented also include commercialisation of Agriculture through issuance of seed money to trainee farmers, value addition and market access among others.
The Wezesha Agri-Eco Hub Project seeks to enable the youth to make economic strides and establish profitable agribusiness ventures.
In its 2023-2026 strategy, Safaricom Foundation has incorporated agribusiness, along with enterprise development and ecoprenuership as key components of its economic empowerment programs.
